Turkey: Ancient Cultures of Eastern Anatolia

Turkey: Ancient Cultures of Eastern Anatolia

For centuries the eastern part of Anatolia has been a crossroads of many different cultures. Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Armenians, Seljuks and Ottomans all have left their mark. The giant sculpted gods of Nemrud Dag, sitting on top of a Taurus peak, are the undisputed highlight. But there are many lesser known treasures, such as the Seljuk cemetery of Ahlat and the Armenian cathedral on Akdamar Island in Lake Van.

An inscription in the Kufic alphabet has been overgrown with white and red lichens. The lettering can be found on a mid 12th century sarcophagus in the Seljuk cemetery of Ahlat, on the western shore of Lake Van. Photo Mick Palarczyk.